Joe
1st
returned in '85 and eventually became the 1st
American businessman in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. He was able to get an
exemption to the US lead embargo and started his own business, Sea Air
Vietnam.
As a witness in the 1972 documentary film, Winter Soldier, he was asked to bring a copy of the film to the negotiations that lead to the ‘Paris Peace Accords.’ The film was supposed to be shown during the talks as evidence of the discontent towards the war in America. The idea was that it might help bring an end to the war. Unfortunately for Joe the copy was stolen, fortunately for the sake of peace, he and his friend had the foresight to bring a spare copy.
Joe was able to keep good relations with Vietnam and made contacts with their representatives at the UN. Until '95 the US government was still refusing to recognize Vietnam as a country. Up to then Americans did not have any proper way of getting in touch with Vietnam, or its people. Joe’s connections at the UN lead to his first trip back in '85 with a group of other veterans (such as photojournalist Geoffrey Clifford).
CastAs a witness in the 1972 documentary film, Winter Soldier, he was asked to bring a copy of the film to the negotiations that lead to the ‘Paris Peace Accords.’ The film was supposed to be shown during the talks as evidence of the discontent towards the war in America. The idea was that it might help bring an end to the war. Unfortunately for Joe the copy was stolen, fortunately for the sake of peace, he and his friend had the foresight to bring a spare copy.
Joe was able to keep good relations with Vietnam and made contacts with their representatives at the UN. Until '95 the US government was still refusing to recognize Vietnam as a country. Up to then Americans did not have any proper way of getting in touch with Vietnam, or its people. Joe’s connections at the UN lead to his first trip back in '85 with a group of other veterans (such as photojournalist Geoffrey Clifford).
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